by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Civil Engineering involves the study of Civil Engineering, Other. Any Instructional Program In Civil Engineering Not Listed Above. Continue reading for the important information every civil engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering civil engineering programs.
Across the country, civil engineering draws strong interest, with 173 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Civil Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 14 schools to determine the best overall colleges for civil engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of civil engineering programs later in this article.
Coursework for Civil Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations civil engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a civil engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a civil engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several civil engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 24 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 30 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 108 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
People currently working in careers related to civil engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 8.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| First professional degree | 1.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in civil engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in civil engineering opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to civil engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to civil engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Transportation Engineers | 392,941 | 1.1% |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | 383,114 | 5.6% |
| Civil Engineers | 278,890 | 11.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of civil engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $71,056 |
| 4 years | $78,886 |
| 5 years | $88,976 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for civil engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers civil engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Transportation Engineers | $120,210 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | $86,573 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Civil Engineers | $72,457 |
With 14 different civil engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased civil engineering school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in civil engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering, General | 19,293 |
| Structural Engineering | 338 |
| Transportation and Highway Engineering | 127 |
| Water Resources Engineering | 53 |
| Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering | 21 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
